Biden: Executive action can be taken on guns

1/9/13 11:56 AM EST

Vice President Joe Biden indicated Wednesday that the president will be able to take executive action to combat gun violence as he kicked off one of several meetings this week in response to the Newtown shooting.

"We're here today to deal with a problem that requires immediate action, urgent action," Biden said at the start of a meeting with leaders from gun control groups and several victims of gun violence.

"The president is going to act. There are executive orders, executive action that can be taken. We haven't decided what that is yet, but we're compiling it all ... as well as legislative action, we believe, is required," he said.

Among the attendees at Wednesday's meeting, Biden said, "There is a pretty wide consensus on three or four or five things in the gun safety area that could and should be done."

But Biden isn't just meeting with those whose views align with the administration. He is set to meet Thursday with the National Rifle Association. Asked what he'll say to them, Biden replied: "They'll be able to tell you that."

Throughout his brief remarks, Biden stressed that the White House will act, even if its steps seem incomplete. "I want to make it clear that we are not going to get caught up in the notion unless we can do everything, we're going to do nothing," he said.